asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take immediate steps to put an end to the practice of certain chain stores of placing girls of calling-up age in their food and refreshment department where they are secure against being called-up and transferring these girls to other departments to replace girls who have been called-up, and then obtaining girls from the employment exchange of calling-up age who have been called-up from other shops?

My right hon. Friend is not aware of the existence of the practice alleged, but if my hon. Friend will send me any information he has I will consider whether any strengthening of existing administrative arrangements is called for. The present arrangements is that, although women engaged in food-distribution are not being called' for interview, this only applies if they were so engaged at the date of their registration. Women transferred to food-distribution after registration are called for interview and considered for transfer to vital war work on the basis of the work they were doing at the date of registration. In reply to the last part of the Question, women called up from employment in shops are not sent to employment in other shops but only to a restricted list of vital war employments set out in leaflet E.D.L. 74, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour how far he delegates his authority so as to enable his regional representatives to prosecute workers who evade work in essential industries?

Since 27th October, 1941, the regional controllers and deputy regional controllers of the Department have been empowered to authorise such proceedings on my right hon. Friend's behalf in appropriate cases.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent he is exercising his powers of prosecuting workers in essential industries who either refuse the work offered them or absent themselves from work without due cause or leave their jobs without permission from the local Ministry of Labour officials?

It is my right hon. Friend's policy to exercise these powers in all proper cases.

asked the Minister of Labour what penalty is incurred by employers illegally terminating the services of labour employed under the Essential Work Order, No. 822, of 1941; and what penalty attaches to employees found guilty of unlawfully terminating their employment under this order?

Infringements of the Essential Work Orders, whether by employers or workers, are offences against Regulation 58A of the Defence (General) Regulations. A person found guilty of such an offence is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to a fine not exceeding £100, or to both imprisonment and fine. On conviction on indictment he is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to a fine not exceeding £500, or to both imprisonment and fine.

asked the Minister of Labour how many women is it estimated should have registered in their age groups so far; how many have actually done so; and how many have been called into war work?

There are means of ascertaining whether all the women due to register actually did so, but statistics of the numbers concerned are not available. As regards the second and third parts of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. and learned Member for North Edinburgh (Mr. Erskine Hill) on 20th November, 1941.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered extending the women's registration ages to cover girls of 19 and 18 years of age, seeing that, as compared with older age groups, these ages include a smaller proportion unavailable for war work owing 10 domestic responsibilities or because of being already engaged in responsible positions, and a larger proportion who have a knowledge of arithmetic, mathematics, natural science or other subjects useful in some of the war occupations for which women are specially needed at present?

This is a matter on which my right hon. Friend recently sought the advice of the women's Advisory Committee, and he hopes to make a statement on the subject next week.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, before women are withdrawn from recognised voluntary organisations engaged on war work, the same test will be applied as is proposed for men in reserved occupations, namely, the nature of the work each one is actually doing?

The same general principles will be applied.

asked the Minister of Labour, whether he is aware that many women are being deterred from taking war work by the refusal of their employers to promise them reinstatement after the war and their consequent fears that the girls below registration age now being taken on will permanently supersede them; and whether he is doing anything to persuade or compel employers to act more generously and patriotically in this matter?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Holland with Boston (Lieutenant Butcher) on 9th October, 1941, and the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 16th October, 1941.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of women employed in the factory; the name of which has been sent to him, and the number of welfare officers at this factory?

Approximately 750 women are employed in the main and subsidiary factories in question; all are engaged on day work. There is one male labour officer and one woman welfare officer.

asked the Minister of Health the number of women working at factories in the town, the name of which has been sent to him, and the number of day nurseries in that town?

As regards the first part of the Question, I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service that full statistics are not available but the larger firms in the town (employing over 100 workpeople each) have about 7,500 women employees and that information is not available as to the number of these who are married women with young children. As regards the second part, one war-time nursery is open and five more have been approved which, should be in operation before the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider applying Section 13 of the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, 1939, to men who, on grounds of conscience, refuse to accept medical examination and are, in consequence, sentenced to a term of imprisonment?

My right hon. Friend has this point under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the London County Council have decided that staff members who register as conscientious objectors, and are put on to Civil Defence work, shall be given the balance of their pay just as if they had been called up in the Army; and, as this is contrary to Government policy, whether he proposes to take any action?

My attention has been drawn to this matter. I would remind my hon. Friend that under Section 1 of the Local Government Staffs (War Service) Act, 1939, a local authority is empowered to make up the balance of civil pay of any employee who ceases to serve the authority in order to undertake war service, and that war service is defined to include employment in Civil Defence service.

asked the Home Secretary whether, while reserving to those who desire it the right of judicial procedure, he will consider a system of fines on the spot for minor motoring offences when the offender admits the offence and desires it to be dealt with in this way and so save the time of all concerned if legal proceedings have to be instituted in every instance?

Proposals of this sort have frequently been considered, and examination of them suggests the disadvantages would outweigh any advantages in the way of saving time.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that the number of runners at Nottingham Races on Saturday, 8th November, was 130, only 19 short of the record under National Hunt Rules; and, in view of the restriction being placed on food and supplies of all kinds, what steps does he propose to take?

I am aware of the number of runners at the Nottingham Meeting. The greatly reduced opportunities for racing tend to increase the numbers of entries at individual meetings. As regards the last part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given him on the 7th August by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in cases where several hundreds of acres of onions are being grown and there is no storage space available, he will issue individual permits to farms to allow them to distribute the onions without delay instead of having to refer the matter to the Vegetable Marketing Board, which is not able to decide with sufficient rapidity?

The suggestion in my hon. Friend's Question is impracticable in view of the obligation placed on the National Vegetable Marketing Company by my Noble Friend to distribute the onion crop in accordance with the consumer reservation scheme. If he will give me particulars of any cases where it is a matter of urgency that the onions should be moved from the farm to avoid wastage I will arrange with the National Vegetable Marketing Company for delivery instructions to be issued immediately.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the number at the last convenient date of British Restaurants now open; and will he give a list of towns, set out regionally, showing the dates when restaurants were opened thereat?

The number of British Restaurants in operation at the 31st October, 1941, was 1,148. This number includes, in addition to British Restaurants operated under the auspices of the Ministry of Food, centres established by local authorities on their own responsibility and centres established by voluntary organisations. I will, with permission, place in the Library of the House a copy of a statement giving the particulars asked for in the latter part of my hon. and gallant Friend's Question. It would not be possible, however, to give the date on which each restaurant was opened without considerable inquiry and I trust my hon. and gallant Friend will agree to dispense with this information. The statement will include names of the places for which plans for British Restaurants have been approved but where the restaurants are not yet in operation, and the names of places for which proposed schemes for British Restaurants are in various stages of consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the need of reserving a sufficient quantity of the fruit-juice imported from America for the use of the general population, especially young children and invalids, has been kept in mind by the Ministry; and, in view of the recent allocation of a large quantity of imported apple-juice for cider manufacturers, what amount will be available for general use?

Yes, Sir, a substantial proportion of imported apple juice will be available to the general population, including children, and to invalids through hospitals. In addition, there will be considerable supplies of citrus juices from Empire sources which will be generally available in the form of soft drinks.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give permission to local authorities to fit stoves into all shelters accommodating 12 or more persons?

Authority has been given to regional commissioners to approve the installation by local authorities of heating apparatus in air raid shelters accommodating 50 or more persons. In addition, where necessary for drying-out purposes, permission has been given for the heating of smaller shelters. If my hon. Friend has in mind proposals which are not covered by this permission I should be glad to consider them on receiving particulars. In this matter I am guided by the advice of the committee under the chairmanship of Lord Horder which; in its first report (Cmd. 6954 of 1940), pointed out that there are objections to beating the majority of shelters during their occupancy which outweigh the advantages, and drew attention to the dangers from fumes involved in the use of coal and coke.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that there is great concern among local authorities owing to their having to pay 75 per cent. of the costs incurred in maintaining fire brigades during the standard year; and, as it is wrong in principle that they should be called upon to contribute to the costs of a service over which they have no control, will he consider making a substantial reduction in this contribution?

I have received representations in this sense from one or two local authorities, but I have no reason to think that local authorities generally regard the settlement as unreasonable. The position is that the local authorities have been relieved of any direct liability for the cost of their fire brigades, but will make a contribution to the Exchequer at the rate of 75 per cent. of the expenditure which they actually incurred before the service was transferred. This arrangement was discussed in the course of the Debate on the Fire Services (Emergency Provisions.) Bill, and the details have been settled in consultation with the local authority associations. It means that the local authorities will in general have to pay less than they did before the transfer and the settlement is, I think, a not ungenerous one.

asked the Home Secretary how many citizens of allied or friendly countries have been detained under Defence Regulation 125A; and how many are still interned?

The total number of aliens of non-enemy nationality who have been detained under Article 12 (5A) of the Aliens Order, 1920, is 1,136. The number at present in detention is 298.

asked the Home Secretary what is now the total sum granted to date to the voluntary organisations who have been befriending refugees from Nazi oppression; what sums have been paid out to what organisations; what is the current rate of grants; and when, in view of the absorption into industry and into other spheres of profitable occupation of large numbers of refugees, it is the intention of the Government to review the position?

The total sum paid to these organisations from January 1940, up to 31st October, 1941, is £857,526. Of this total £653,178 represents payments to the Central Council for Jewish Refugees, £102,485 to the Christian Council for Refugees, and £18,192 to the Scottish National Council for Refugees. The balance represents payments to about 120 separate organisations, the maximum amount being about £7,500, and the remainder, with 14 exceptions, being less than £1,000. The current rates of grant are, in the case of administration, 75 per cent., and in the case of maintenance, either 100 per cent. of the actual expenditure in accordance with assessments made by the Assistance Board or in special cases, where the organisation desires to supplement the rates which rank for grant, 50 per cent. of certain standard rates. As regards the last part of the Question, I am glad to say that, as a result of the causes mentioned by my hon. Friend, the number of persons requiring assistance is steadily decreasing and the whole position is under continuous review by the Home Office both in connection with the preparation of the estimates for each year and otherwise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will bear in mind, in connection with the work of the bureau created by the St. James's Palace Conference, the advisability of close co-operation with the International Labour Organisation and the Economic and Financial Sections of the League of Nations in preparing post-war plans?

Yes, Sir. The possibility of such co-operation will certainly be borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the continued activities of the British Council in Cyprus; whether the student and club membership of the British Institute is being maintained; and whether progress can be reported on the attendance of British troops at Greek classes?

The British Council's activities in Cyprus are continuing normally. Its institutes in Nicosia, Famagusta, Larnaca and Kyrenia reopened in October after the summer vacation. Over 800 students and club members made use of the institutes last season; that in Nicosia was full to capacity. No figures for the present season have yet been received in respect of students, or club members, or of the British troops attending Greek classes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the publications produced at the instance of the British Council, namely, British trades unions, the British co-operative movement and the International Guild books will be placed in the Library of the House for the information of Members?

Yes, Sir, as soon as they are published.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an outline of the programme of cultural effort now in process under the direction of the British Council Institute in Montevideo?

The Anglo-Uruguayan Cultural Institute is an entirely independent Uruguayan society. It is not under the control of the British Council, but, like all the other Anglophil societies in South America, it collaborates closely with the Council. The educational activities of the institute consist of 67 classes in the English language and literature given to over 1,000 students, and of extra-mural classes for the Industrial School in Montevideo, for the Federation of Workers in Commerce and Industry and for other organisations. The programme of social activities for the first eight months of this year included seven lectures, 10 evening functions and weekly teas, providing opportunities for practice in English conversation. The institute has over 200 regular members.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is investigating the degree of capital appreciation in certain investments, due in no way to the efforts of the investors and solely to the changing circumstances of the war; and whether he is considering the possibility of taxing such capital increments as a source of additional revenue?

I am not prepared to adopt the suggestion made by my hon. Friend. Any proposal of this character which seeks to tax unrealised capital appreciation would—apart from any other objections there may be to it—of necessity involve also the taking into account of unrealised capital depreciation.

asked the Minister of Information what broadcasts take place to the Soviet Union; and what negotiations are proceeding with regard to them?

After consultation with the Soviet Government, it has been decided that broadcasts in Russian are not at present necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will define the nature of the grievance of certain radio locators in respect of pay; and how many individuals are affected thereby?

My hon. Friend no doubt refers to the decision to remove the trade of operator (fire control) from the list of Army trades with effect from 31st January, 1941. Under the normal rules men who were at that date mustered in the trade in question were entitled to retain their tradesmen's rates of pay for. a period of six months. It was subsequently decided to allow them to retain their rates up to 31st December, 1941, whilst they remain employed on the same duties, pending further consideration of the question of the appropriate rates of pay for this employment. This has been under review and it is hoped that a decision will shortly be reached. This concession to the men mustered in the trade before the revision of 31st January, 1941, allowing them temporarily to retain their special rates of pay means that for the time being they are drawing higher rates than those subsequently posted to this duty. It would not be in the public interest to give the number of fire control operators.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increase in cases of scabies among both children and adults in the Metropolitan area, he will make a statement on the present position and circularise local authorities on the best means of arresting the further spreading of this complaint?

Local authorities throughout the country have lately been given new powers to enable them to combat the disease more effectively. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the circular that I have recently issued to local authorities on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can now state the attitude of all the different county councils whose areas border on exposed coast lines, North-East, East, South-East, South', South-West, with regard to the suggested relief to the rates, especially in relation to any State subsidisation of precept income of contributory local authorities?

I have received representations from one county council in regard to the method of assistance to local authorities outlined in the statement of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 5th September, 1940, and I have asked the council to send a deputation to my Department to discuss the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether, in connection with town and country planning, the different Government services are informing him progressively which factories and camps are to remain permanently after the war and which are only temporary?

No, Sir. While I appreciate that the question whether war-time factories and camps are to be regarded as permanent or temporary is an essential factor in town and country planning, I do not think that at this stage reliable forecasts can be given.